9 - Mucosal colour changes Flashcards
1
Q
What are the causes of oral white lesions?
8
A
- hereditary
- smoking
- frictional
- lichen planus
- candidal leukoplakia
- carcinoma
- GVHD
- lupus erythematous
2
Q
Why are white lesions white?
A
- tissues have normal pink colour from connective tissue and blood vessels
- increase in keratin thickness makes the tissue more opaque and presents as white
- less blood in the tissues presents as white
3
Q
Define leukoplakia.
A
- a white patch that cannot be scraped off or attributed to any other cause
- diagnosis of exclusion
4
Q
What causes frictional keratosis?
A
Parafunction, thickening of the keratin layer of the mucosa
5
Q
What causes smokers keratosis?
A
Thermal trauma from the smoke causing thickening of the keratin layer of the mucosa
6
Q
What is hereditary keratosis?
A
- know as white sponge naevus
- white lesions found in areas of mucosa not subject to trauma
- fluid accumulates between layers of epithelium
- begins in childhood
- runs in families
7
Q
What can cause a chemical burn to the mucosa?
2
A
- aspirin
- alendronic acid
8
Q
What causes hairy leukoplakia?
A
EBV
9
Q
Describe pseudomembranous candidiasis.
A
- white patches that can be scraped off mucosa
- known as thrush
- can bleed under where white patches were present due to inflammation
10
Q
When should you refer a white lesion?
A
- if the lesion is red and white, focus on red lesion when deciding to refer
- is lesion is raised and thickened
- if the lesion appears to have no cause
11
Q
What areas are of concern when a white patch appears?
3
A
- lateral tongue
- anterior FOM
- soft palate
12
Q
Why do red lesions present red?
A
- increased blood flow through inflammation or dysplasia
- reduced thickness of epithelium
13
Q
Define erythroplakia.
A
- unexplained red change that cannot be attributed to any other cause
- requires biopsy due to malignancy concern
14
Q
Why are lesions red/blue?
A
- dark = slow moving blood
- light = clear fluid, saliva or lymph
15
Q
What is a haemangioma?
A
- red lesion commonly found on the side of the tongue
- vascular so can increase in size and shrink
